The following is the IKV Bayou Serpent's report on the event.

Venom Wars 2 paintball war is an event I've been looking forward to 
for a while now.After last years event and seeing how the IKV 
Melota's events are so well planned we had to step up to the plate.I 
believe we did that very well.First off,we built a 2 foot high stage 
with platforms on the sides and the front.Two posts were attached to 
the back to hang the Bayou Serpent logo from and 2 cardassian skulls 
were perched atop the posts.Fire pits were placed all around.

The IKV Melota crew,which included Salek,Krell,Dragen,and Y'lesh 
arrived sometime between 11pm and 12am on Friday if my bloodwine 
soaked brain remembers correctly.We welcomed them and visited for a 
while before the camps were set up and it was off to bed,some to 
sleep.I stayed up after a long day of setting up to welcome Y'lesh a 
little more.

Morning came much too early but we were ready after 3 mundane guests 
I had invited showed up and were used to even out the teams.I 
volunteered to referee the first game and Salek held the camera.The 
first of the 3 "planned" games was a scenario game in which the 
Ferengi had found an Iconian gateway and used it to plunder various 
governments and time periods for valuable artifacts.The Klingon 
Empire destroyed the ship in orbit and the containers carrying the 
artifacts were scattered over the playing area.These 9 containers had 
different point values according to the value to the Empire and one 
was a fake.After a slighty late start,we started the first game which 
had a 2 hour time limit.Fighting was slow at first as everyone was 
scrambling to find the containers which I had hidden,another reason I 
volunteered to referee.Once the containers were found the opposing 
teams attempted to steal the containers from the enemy camp.Since the 
point values were very different,a team with less containers could 
still win it.After the horn was blown to signal the end of the game 
the Melota had 3 containers after a game penalty against the Bayou 
Serpent for a mundane removing his colored armband.We all piled into 
the shuttle for a lunch break one person short,Dragen.So began the 
search.Using communicators we searched on foot and by shuttle for 
over 2 hours before we all got into the woods forming a line to sweep 
search for Dragen.After a 3 hour search we became worried that 
misfortune had fallen on our friend,particularly by snake bite since 
snakes are common in the woods where we were.Darkness was quickly 
approaching and the hunt was called off and everyone returned home to 
call the police to help.Just then Dragen drives up and on terran 
farming equipment he had "acquired" from a local field.Everyone was 
very happy for this but he won't hear the end of it for a long time 
as we ribbed him all night and during the ceremonies.This year we 
only got to play one game,just as last year, with the IKV bayou 
Serpent as the winner.

Ceremonies started right at dark after a brief run-through for the 
members who had never been involved in one.Salek offered up the 
bloodwine to Quad Com K'Allen and then he took another dip in the 
name of Kamin,the Melota's recently fallen warrior.A death howl and 
prayer was given for Kamin,Torsha's father,and various Trek alumni.I 
handed out event pins were handed out for VW 1 and VW2 in which I 
told Dragen not to get lost on the way back to his place in 
line.Dragen was also awarded "least bruised" which we fixed later and 
one of our mundane guests won "most bruised".K'Allen promoted Krell 
and Dragen and ceremonies closed to start the party.

Partying with the Melota has always been my favorite part of the 
events and this was no different.Most everyone fought with either the 
bat'leth or D'ktahg,notably Ni'vek who didnt seem to be able to get 
enough,maybe he was trying to pay Salek back for the bloodwine sippy 
cup he was given during ceremonies!The evening saw lots of joking 
with Dragen,Y'lesh and my XO Torsha.Torsha and I ending up in a 
wrestling match on the ground and Dragen and Y'lesh were shot in the 
butt cheeks to show them the thrill of paintball.After everyone was 
sufficiently numb everyone started heading off to bed.

Sunday morning brought the tearing down and packing up that I hate so 
much.I gave Y'lesh her first Harley ride which she enjoyed very much 
and after a lot of chatting and hugging the Melota was en route back 
to Texas.I always feel a sadness in my heart when we have to say our 
goodbyes.The Melota is a great bunch and will be missed dearly til 
the next event.I will especially miss Y'lesh who makes my 8 chambered 
heart beat much faster.